World's Most Expensive Bottle Of Booze Sells For Eye-Watering Price At Auction

These days, booze doesn't exactly come at a low cost. In certain places, you may now have to pay closer to $10 for a beer if you're going out to eat and would like one with your meal.

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Of course, buying a crate of beer and drinking at home is much less expensive, but what fun is that?

However, the amount that one customer in London paid for this specific alcohol this past weekend was nothing compared to $10 here and $8 there.

Extremely rare Scottish whisky Macallan Adami 1926 sold for an astounding £2.1 million in the UK, or over $2.7 million in the US.

The mouthwatering sale came about as a result of a bidding war that broke out over the phone and in the Sotheby's room in the English capital.

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What makes the whisky so valuable, then?

Well, in 1986, only 40 bottles of The Macallan 1926 were produced, which had been matured for almost 60 years in sherry casks by Macallan in Scotland since, yes, 1926.

Italian painter Valerio Adami created the labels for 12 of the 40 bottles made, including the one that sold for $2.6 million, which increased the value of the bottles.

According to Jonny Fowle, head of spirits at Sotheby's worldwide, the Macallan 1926 is a highly sought-after whisky that every collector aspires to own and every auctioneer wants to sell.

"It's very rich, it's got a lot of dried fruit as you would expect, a lot of spice, a lot of wood," Fowle added to the AFP news agency.

Owing to its scarcity, there was a fierce bidding battle on Saturday, and the whisky's final price was about $2.7 million.

Because of the so-called buyer premium, the already enormous price is raised even more, increasing the size of the record sale.

Pre-auction estimates ranged from $930,000 to $1.5 million, therefore the whisky's final price far exceeded those ranges.

Master Whisky Maker Kirsteen Campbell of Macallan's says the pricey beverage has a powerful aroma of aged oak, followed by rich dark fruits and black cherry compote.

Before the whisky went up for auction, Campbell got a chance to sample the complex flavors.

"It was a very special moment to experience the opening of this iconic 60 Years Old single malt, first bottled 37 years ago, and I hope the new custodian will enjoy the same privilege," she said.

However, The Macallan Adami 1926's sale for over $2.7 million signifies a strong market for rare whiskies. Limited to 40 bottles in 1986 with unique Valerio Adami labels, its rarity adds to its allure. 

The intense bidding at Sotheby's underscores its scarcity and appeal to collectors. These sales indicate a growing interest and value in exclusive and exceptional spirits.